Half-Life 2: Episode One Preload Next Week

[Evil Avatar]

The Friday Steam Update (http://www.steampowered.com/Steam/Marketing/April28.2006/) has word from Valve that the Half-Life 2 expansion pack, Half-Life 2: Episode One, will begin pre-loading next week.

Congratulations to Ritual! SiN Episode 1: Emergence (http://sinepisodes.com) has officially gone GOLD. The game is now available for preloading on Steam. The full game will be unlocked on May 10th at 10am Pacific Daylight Time (17:00 GMT).

Half-Life 2: Episode One (http://ep1.half-life2.com) will begin preloding next week, and will be available to play June 1st. With Episode One, we really feel like we've produced our best single player game to date, and we're excited for people to be able to play it.

Meanwhile, the Red Orchestra (http://www.redorchestragame.com/) team continues to turn out updates, the latest of which is the beta SDK for their game. If you own RO and would like to try it out, click on the "Tools" tab inside Steam.

[Everlost_MI]

Nice...I just pre-orded SiN Episode 1.

[RandomViolence]

we really feel like we've produced our best single player game to date

Wow. That's confidence, considering their history. I know they have to hype it, but I'm still impressed by the ballsiness of that statement.

[Draft]

Wow. That's confidence, considering their history. I know they have to hype it, but I'm still impressed by the ballsiness of that statement.eh it's Valve. They're good at hyperbole.

HL2 was pretty fucking fun, so I'll be pre-ordering this.

I also pre-ordered SiN. Support digital distribution. Support episodic content. Be a 21st century man.

[RandomViolence]

eh it's Valve. They're good at hyperbole.

HL2 was pretty fucking fun, so I'll be pre-ordering this.

I also pre-ordered SiN. Support digital distribution. Support episodic content. Be a 21st century man.

Agreed. I already did SiN as well, and will pre-order this the instant I can.

[Kefkataran]

Looking forward to this. A little disappointed, though, that Sin Episode 1 isn't coming out tomorrow as originally intended. Ah, well.

[aversion2k]

They didnt say it was the best game of all time, they just said that they feel its their best game. I dont think thats any sort of super over hyped statment

[RandomViolence]

They didnt say it was the best game of all time, they just said that they feel its their best game. I dont think thats any sort of super over hyped statment

Normally, I'd agree, but this is Valve. Y'know, Half-Life Valve? They consider this episode better than either HL1 or 2. That's saying something, isn't it?

[Klade]

I'm pretty happy to see this, but I'll be buying Episode 1 in a boxed form. Not only do the headaches of trying to deal with a few million people connecting to the steam network at the same time still feel fresh to me from the HL2 launch, but I also collect the boxes ;-).

[Heretic Machine]

Normally, I'd agree, but this is Valve. Y'know, Half-Life Valve? They consider this episode better than either HL1 or 2. That's saying something, isn't it?

Well, HL2 was better than HL1... this is a continuation of HL2, so I mean, it could easily be better than anything they've made before.

[RandomViolence]

Well, HL2 was better than HL1... this is a continuation of HL2, so I mean, it could easily be better than anything they've made before.

I don't think Half-Life 2 was better than Half-Life 1, but I see your point.

Anyway, I'm just making inane comments on what was nothing more than a game developer pushing its game.

[thecrazyd]

Wait a tic. If SiN is gold, and we do not need to wait for it to be pressed or shipped, why can't I play it now?

[Wombat]

They probably have to wait for Sin to be available in stores before you can play the downloaded version because of contractual obligation to the retail distributor.

[thecrazyd]

Is there going to be a box copy of SiN?

[Heretic Machine]

Is there going to be a box copy of SiN?

Might be... there have been boxed versions of many other Steam games, including Red Orchestra. They are all in that same oversized DVD-style box that HL2 came in.

[Kefkataran]

I'm pretty happy to see this, but I'll be buying Episode 1 in a boxed form. Not only do the headaches of trying to deal with a few million people connecting to the steam network at the same time still feel fresh to me from the HL2 launch, but I also collect the boxes ;-).

Well, if you pre-order it you'd get it downloaded and not have to worry about those headaches. If you're just talking about connecting, you'll need to worry whether you get the boxed version or not.

Is there going to be a box copy of SiN?

Yes. For Episode 1, at least, there will be.

[fndarkone]

more interesting than all of that:

plush headcrabs!
http://store.valvesoftware.com/productshowcase/productshowcase_HL2HeadCrabPlush.html

[thecrazyd]

more interesting than all of that:

plush headcrabs!
http://store.valvesoftware.com/productshowcase/productshowcase_HL2HeadCrabPlush.html
That is fucking awesome. If only it was full sized.

[Mister Pie]

Wow, I'm actually tempted to order that doll.

[RandomViolence]

Wow, I'm actually tempted to order that doll.

I think I may have just done that. I'm not sure, but I think so.

[Morrolan]

HATE the naming scheme. "Half Life: Episode 1"? So, what is Half-Life and Half-Life 2? Episodes -1 and 0? So confusing. Now we'll have HL1, HL2, HLE1, HLE2, etc... what were they thinking?

Does downloading the game via steam net me any savings, pre-order discounts aside? If not, then my money will go to support the retail copies. Viewing manuals in some stupid PDF format, or printing it out for myself, these annoyances should be offset by some money off.

[Varsity]

Wait a tic. If SiN is gold, and we do not need to wait for it to be pressed or shipped, why can't I play it now?
Their retail deal with EA means that they have to release on Steam and the same price or higher than retail, and at the same time or later.

[Groo]

HATE the naming scheme. "Half Life: Episode 1"? So, what is Half-Life and Half-Life 2? Episodes -1 and 0? So confusing. Now we'll have HL1, HL2, HLE1, HLE2, etc... what were they thinking?

If you're really having a hard time figuring it out, you should probably just give up on life right now.

[GunJ]

Their retail deal with EA means that they have to release on Steam and the same price or higher than retail, and at the same time or later.


God damn ! Seriously ? This is a smart move from EA's point of view... I hate it but it's smart - secure as much retail dominance as you can, while you have the leverage.
Varsity - you have the deal details somewhere ? If you have i'd appreciate it if you could give a link or sth. - would love to get to know it.

Also - is STEAM solely Valve's entity ? Did they fork the cash themselves, or did someone else finance it and they split the income from that channel with some1 else ? If it's only theirs, than I understand EA's wearyness about it making the retail as such, obsolete.

I'm starting to think about getting a sig similar to what one of the roman senators used to say about Carthage everytime he finished a speach on forum - except not about carthage but EA.

[Cool AN]

Great news.

[Suicidal ShiZuru]

more interesting than all of that:

plush headcrabs!
http://store.valvesoftware.com/productshowcase/productshowcase_HL2HeadCrabPlush.html

I saw the headcrab a day or so ago. If it was full size, or didnt look so... non headcrab-ish, I would get one....

[Varsity]

Varsity - you have the deal details somewhere ? If you have i'd appreciate it if you could give a link or sth. - would love to get to know it.
Actually, I just inferred it from the fact that Valve and Ritual are both doing the same jig even though it is clearly against their interests.

Also - is STEAM solely Valve's entity ? Did they fork the cash themselves, or did someone else finance it and they split the income from that channel with some1 else ?Yes, yes, no.

[balamoor]

You know ...... I put off buying HL when it came out. When the GOTY edition came out I purchased it then. The game owned me like David Geffen owns Keano Reeves. HL 2 rolls around and I do the exact same thing pass it by on the shelves didn't even play the demo....last night I downloaded it on Steam, and once again Valve is owning all my free time.

Damn them..Damn them all to hell.

[Heretic Machine]

You know ...... I put off buying HL when it came out. When the GOTY edition came out I purchased it then. The game owned me like David Geffen owns Keano Reeves. HL 2 rolls around and I do the exact same thing pass it by on the shelves didn't even play the demo....last night I downloaded it on Steam, and once again Valve is owning all my free time.

Damn them..Damn them all to hell.

I was never that impressed by Half-life... I was playing it many years after it was released, and to me, Halo pretty much out-did it in every way. Of course this was years after it was released, so that's to be expected, but the game certainly wasn't timeless as I am very much into the old-games scene and still couldn't find interest in it. HL2 rocks my world though, not for any one thing, but the whole package came together for a highly variable, and atmospheric experience. Sort of like what I wanted from Halo 2, but didn't exactly get.

[balamoor]

I was never that impressed by Half-life... I was playing it many years after it was released, and to me, Halo pretty much out-did it in every way. Of course this was years after it was released, so that's to be expected, but the game certainly wasn't timeless as I am very much into the old-games scene and still couldn't find interest in it. HL2 rocks my world though, not for any one thing, but the whole package came together for a highly variable, and atmospheric experience. Sort of like what I wanted from Halo 2, but didn't exactly get.




Well I have to disagree about Halo Peri... personally for me it was a snore fest and 2 was even worse, but different strokes. I think however why HL2 is keeping me up (really ...I down loaded it at 8:30 pm last night and I have not stopped playing it..... Any one that knows me on these forums will tell that is rare for me) is the atmosphere... I mean my God City 17 sorta reminds me of Prague right after the wall fell...to be able to pull that off takes huge talent.

The guys at Valve should be really proud of HL 2…. I just wish that some of the MMORPG developers would look at games like this and say..”Why can’t we make our quest this engaging and fun?”

[Citizen Philip]

I'm pretty happy to see this, but I'll be buying Episode 1 in a boxed form. Not only do the headaches of trying to deal with a few million people connecting to the steam network at the same time still feel fresh to me from the HL2 launch, but I also collect the boxes ;-).

:( I collected boxes too... I once had every game I, or my family had bought since I was kid, from Airborn Ranger, Times of Lore, various Sierra titles maybe 80-90 maybe more, boxes. I spent an entire weekend cateloging the contents of the boxes, disks, and inserts: I placed all the box covers under something really heavy so I flatten them for an album: and someone threw them out. It really sucked.

[Watership]

Can someone tell me why SIN is getting hype? The first game was crap, this new game doesn't seem to be anything special. What am I missing?

[Kefkataran]

Does downloading the game via steam net me any savings, pre-order discounts aside?

Yes. You get 10% off (i.e. it'll cost approximately $17.50 instead of $20.00).

Can someone tell me why SIN is getting hype? The first game was crap, this new game doesn't seem to be anything special. What am I missing?

Episodic content and the HL2 engine. But no worries, if the first episode sucks bad, the hype will dry up fast.

[RandomViolence]

What am I missing?

The fact that a lot of people disagree with you.

[aversion2k]

I'm pretty happy to see this, but I'll be buying Episode 1 in a boxed form. Not only do the headaches of trying to deal with a few million people connecting to the steam network at the same time still feel fresh to me from the HL2 launch, but I also collect the boxes ;-).

I have a big pile'o'box's too. Too bad modern games are starting to come out in those big dvd case's. Not really a box, but to big to fit on any dvd rack. I found that you can usually fit a sandwich, banana and some yogurt in them though.

[Kefkataran]

I have a big pile'o'box's too. Too bad modern games are starting to come out in those big dvd case's. Not really a box, but to big to fit on any dvd rack. I found that you can usually fit a sandwich, banana and some yogurt in them though.

I'm cool with them. Not as big or ugly as plastic boxes, not as small and breakable as jewel cases, and fit just fine on my bookshelf with my console games.

[saulob]

what's this preload ?

you can download the game, but can't play, it's locked ?

what it mean ?

no, I never download, bought something from steam.

thanks ;)

[Kefkataran]

what's this preload ?

you can download the game, but can't play, it's locked ?

what it mean ?

You can download the game onto your comp, and then on the day it's released you can play immediately.